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For Pete's sake: Options to bat behind fifth in the Mets lineup next year
Who could give Pete Alonso the much-needed protection he's missing?
For Pete’s sake, give Alonso a little help. You can find the Polar Bear hitting fourth in the New York Mets starting lineup more often than not. Behind him this year we found way too much Daniel Vogelbach and other unsatisfactory options. Jeff McNeil simply doesn’t belong in the middle of the order in major RBI chances.
Giving their most prolific power hitter protection in the lineup is one of the top needs for this ball club. It’s a waste of a good bat to leave him vulnerable. If pitchers knew right behind Alonso was an equally or almost as dangerous hitter waiting, we might get an even better version of him.
As much as we’d all love to see DJ Stewart bloom into a legitimate major league starter, the Mets need to think bigger. Looking inward and then outward at some possibilities, I’ve come to find one answer from the current roster, one from free agency, and one trade possibility to really like, for Pete’s sake.
1) Best NY Mets option to bat fifth with the team right now: Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, or Ronny Mauricio
Consider this option one of two ways. Either it means the Mets have gone the cheap route or one of these players really has developed into something great. Mark Vientos isn’t in the mix because frankly how can we really believe he’ll be an everyday player for this ball club without a position? The Mets have held him back from being the everyday DH already. What can really change their opinion?
A lot more can change when it comes to Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and even Ronny Mauricio. All three are capable of hitting for power. Only Alvarez has shown it on a consistent basis at the major league level. Mauricio needs to be allowed more time to join him.
Having one of the Baby Mets hit behind Pete is the eventual goal. However, it’s not nearly the best choice for the 2024 season. For that, let’s first look into free agency.
2) Best NY Mets option to bat fifth in free agency: Cody Bellinger
We should start looking at Cody Bellinger as a legitimate option for the Mets this offseason. The Chicago Cubs took a chance on the downfallen former National League MVP and it has paid off in a big way. He’s going to challenge for a 30 home run and 100 RBI season. At the very least, Bellinger should hit over .300 with plenty of other respectable numbers.
The Mets could use Bellinger for a couple of reasons. He never really lost a step on defense and with Brandon Nimmo regressing, the team has a solution. Move Nimmo into left field and let Bellinger take over as the everyday center fielder. You still have Nimmo around to play center field as needed.
But it’s not the defense you go after Bellinger for. At 28, he’s a young potential free agent whose mutual option for the 2024 season looks far too team-friendly for a Scott Boras client to accept. Bellinger is set to make $12.5 million next year if he and the Cubs were to accept the terms of the current contract. This season proved Bellinger has gas left in the tank. It’s an easy call for him to re-enter the free agent pool. Will the Mets come calling?
Bellinger is an especially appealing option for the Mets in the number five spot because of his left-handed bat. It would be the most ideal situation for the ball club although there is one question to ponder about his presence in Queens; would the lineup make a little more sense to have Bellinger batting in front of Alonso with Francisco Lindor in the two-hole?
However you want to order them, Bellinger can provide Alonso with some added protection. He’s the best free agent to do it. What about someone available through a trade?
For those curious, Shohei Ohtani isn’t a fit here because there is no way he’d get buried fifth in the lineup. He’d be a howitzer missile behind Alonso but wouldn’t dare get his first hacks in the second inning ever.
3) Best NY Mets option to bat fifth via trade: Anthony Santander
The trade market is far vaster than free agency so take your pick of anyone you believe is a reasonable option for the Mets. Somewhere on your list might be Baltimore Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander. He’s a switch-hitter with a history of power and only one year away from free agency.
The Orioles don’t seem too keen on spending a whole lot of money unless they raise ticket prices—according to the owner. Trading Santander this offseason rather than go to arbitration with him in year three and eventually lose him in free agency seems like an appropriate move for them. He’ll turn 29 this October which should mean we’re witnessing the prime of his career.
Santander hasn’t been a good defender but is capable of playing both corner spots and first base. This isn’t some sort of romanticism with DJ Stewart leading the conversation toward the Mets and Santander. He’s a legitimately good hitter and appears attainable.
It’s a professional and proven home run hitter like Santander the Mets should look to fill out their roster with. He could share some of the DH duties. He’d be a very appropriate platoon partner with the aforementioned Stewart but also get into the lineup on a far more regular basis. Santander has hit slightly better against left-handed pitchers than right-handed ones. The Mets shouldn’t break the bank in a trade to acquire him. However, he seems like the kind of sneaky-good pickup who’ll be available if it can save ownership some money.
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